Joseph McDonnell Ph.D.
Academic Degrees
- Ph.D., Communications, University of Southern California
- MA, Philosophy, Stony Brook University
- BA, Philosophy, Stony Brook University
Profile
Joseph W. McDonnell came to USM in 2011 and served as the Dean of the College of Management and Human Services (including the Muskie School, the Business School, the Education School and the Social Work School) and then served as University Provost. As an administrator, he initiated the PhD in Education Leadership as a joint program between the Muskie School and the Education School. He also initiated the program in Tourism and Hospitality in the Muskie School and secured a Confucius Institute for the University.
In 2016, he began his service as a professor in the Muskie School where he teaches courses in Organizational Leadership, Crisis and Risk Management, Argumentation and Advocacy and Governance, Democracy and Public Policy. A list of his publications is available on this website.
Before coming to USM, Dr. McDonnell served as Interim Dean of the School of Business and Research Professor at Stony Brook University. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions within the business world, serving as senior vice president for marketing and external affairs for the Long Island Lighting Company, managing director of Broadgate Consultants, a Wall Street communications and investor relations firm, and president of Chinex International, LTD, a joint venture with China National Machinery Corporation. McDonnell also served as associate director of the Stony Brook University Hospital.
Recent Publications
- Maine Voices: Ivestment, not tariffs, the way to compete with China, Portland Press Herald (Aug 2019)
- Maine Voices: After trade war, it’s unclear if Beijing, Washington can forge productive relationship, Portland Press Herald (Apr 2019)
- Maine Voices: Heart of trade battle with U.S. is China’s rising economic competitiveness, Portland Press Herald (Aug 2018)
- Maine Voices, Maine’s workforce challenges call for bold public strategies, Portland Press Herald (May 2018)
- Lincoln’s election let our house divided. He tried his best to unify us again., Bangor Daily News (Feb 2018)
- The Greater Portland Tomorrow: The case for Growth: Not Weather but How, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce Publication (Winter 2017)
- The Greater Portland Tomorrow: Choices for Sustained Posperity, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce Publication (Fall 2017)
- The future of Greater Portland, Portland Press Herald/ Maine Sunday Telegram (Oct 2017)
- China’s rise doesn’t need to end with war against the United States, Bangor Daily News (Aug 2017)
- Take Heed of Washington’s warnings about the threats to democracy, Bangor Daily News (Feb 17)
- What Trump Can Learn from past presidents’ inaugural addresses, Bangor Daily news (Jan 2017)
- Maine Voices: How will Trump Shape China Policy?, Portland Press Herald (Jan 2017)
- How Will Portland Deal with its Impending Growth, Portland Press Herald/ Maine Sunday Telegram (Oct 2016)
- Solving Maine’s student debt, workforce crises demand a collaborative approach, Bangor Daily News (Sept 2016)
- Lincoln doubted he could achieve Washington’s greatness — then he did, Bangor Dily News (Feb 2016)
- Maine Voices: Martin Luther King, Jr. showed us how to achieve justice and equality, Portland Press Herald (Jan 2016)
- Maine Voices: The world’s two largest economies have much to gain as partners, Portland Press Herald (Sept 2015)
- To Prepare Students for an Interconnected World – Connect with China, Journal of Maine Education (2014)
- Off Campus: USM will survive and prosper by becoming a ‘metropolitan’ university, Portland Press Herald (Sept 2014)
- Off Campus: Why China’s economic challenges matter to the United States, Portland Press Herald (Jul 2014)
- Off Campus: ‘Gettysburg Address’ a model for instilling common purpose, Portland Press Herald (Feb 2014)
- Off Campus: Henry Fonda character shows how to lead amid angry paralysis, Portland Press Herald (Nov 2013)
- Off Campus: To move forward, Washington may have to take a look back, Portland Press Herald (Oct 2013)
- Off Campus: USM's Confucius Institute will help build bridges with China, Portland Press Herald (Sept 2013)
- Off Campus: No need to choose between career, deep thoughts, Portland Press Herald (Aug 2013)
- Off Campus: Lincoln and Douglas: Leadership lessons for a divided country, Portland Press Herald (Feb 2013)
Professional Activity
- Off Campus: If ignorance is expensive, so can be a college education, Portland Press Herald (Dec 2012)
- The Five Minute University: Rethinking the educational experience, Portland Press Herald (Dec 2012)
- University and city can be partners in economic development, Portland Press Herald (Nov 2012)
- Building a robust middle class, Bangor Daily News (Oct 2012)
- The health care challenge for small business, Bangor Daily News (Jul 2012)
- Pay attention to today's Willy Lomans, Bangor Daily News (Jun 2012)
- Would Warren Buffett buy your business?, Bangor Daily News (May 2012)
- The search for job creators, Bangor Daily News (Apr 2012)
- Business lessons from the Bard, Bangor Daily News (Feb 2012)
- Bloomberg's bold bid: Lessons in economic development, Bangor Daily News (Jan 2012)
- Looking at the building blocks of leadership, Bangor Daily News (Dec 2011)
- Reimagining career preparation, Bangor Daily News (Oct 2011)
- Rethinking education to move forward, Bangor Daily News (Oct 2011)
- Cut out-of-state tuition to spur economic growth, Bangor Daily News (Sep 2011)
- Is Maine developing a workforce for its future?, Bangor Daily News (Aug 2011)
- Business Education and the Liberal Arts: A Rhetorical Approach, The Oxford Handbook of Lifelong Learning (Jan 2011)